Title: Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses
Author: Jenny Hale
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 16 October 2015
Twitter: @jhaleauthor
Blog/website: http://itsjennyhale.com/
Rating: 4 out of 5
Blurb
Single mother Abbey Fuller loves her family more than anything, and doesn’t regret for a moment having had to put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold. But with her son, Max, growing up, when a friend recommends her for a small design job she jumps at the chance. How hard can it be?
Nick Sinclair needs his house decorated in time for his family’s festive visit – and money is no object. What he doesn’t need is to be distracted from his multi-million dollar business – even if it is Christmas.
When Abbey pulls up to the huge Sinclair mansion, she has a feeling she might be out of her depth. And when she meets the gorgeous, brooding Nicholas Sinclair, she knows that she’s in real trouble…
With the snow falling all around, can Abbey take the chance to make her dreams of being a designer come true? And can she help Nick to finally enjoy the magic of Christmas?
Review
Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kissesis a heart-warming and uplifting story about the magical nature of Christmas time.
Single-mother Abby Fuller has put her own dreams to one side in order to make the best life she can for her young son, Max. As such, she has put her creative passions to one side and is working as a nurse to an elderly lady, Caroline Sinclair. After decorating Caroline’s home for Christmas, Abby bags herself the opportunity to decorate the very large home of Nick Sinclair, Caroline’s grandson. Whilst Abby feels overwhelmed by the opportunity, the money offered will enable her to give her son the best Christmas ever!
As Abby gets to know Nick, she realises that he is a workaholic, putting the business before his family and his own relationships. As Abby tried to befriend Nick and show him the importance of family, she is consistently frustrated. Every time she seems to be getting somewhere with him, his emotions shut down and he accuses her of being a distraction. Abby can see that he is a hugely generous and kind person, yet she cannot understand why he has such an obsessive need to work…?
The first thing I loved about this book were the characters. They are all very likeable and relatable and I found that it is impossible not to warm to each and every one of them.
I also enjoyed the plotline. I particularly found it very endearing to see the innocent young Max bring Nick out of his shell and expose him to the joy of family life. I also enjoyed reading about Abby and Nick’s burgeoning relationship, moving from employee/employer, to friendship, to something more. I loved that the author allowed them time to develop their feelings in a slow, authentic manner rather than jumping feet first into lust.
Things hit a bit of a ‘bump’ when Nick decides that Abby and Max are a distraction and detrimental to the success of his company. He decides that he must return to New York for the good of the business. Will this be the end for Abby and Nick, and to the family that they are starting to develop into?
Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kissesis a beautifully uplifting tale of Christmas spirit, romance, family and mistletoe. It is a reminder that we should all follow our dreams and that it is never too late to do so. This was a great start to my 2015 Christmas reading as it left me feeling happy, snug and anxious for Christmas to arrive. A real page-turner and a great festive read!
About the Author
Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can’t.
While I didn’t start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was worthy of publication.
The rest is history.
When I’m not writing, I’m a District Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, a mother of two boys, and a wife to a very supportive husband.
The Curious Ginger Cat 